Bohol Designers Mounts Successful Runway Show

Twelve designers. More than 70 models. It was the biggest fashion event to be mounted in Bohol. 

Aptly named “EXODUS: Fashion Forward”, the year- end fashion extravaganza showcased the couture collections of Bohol Designers Circle composed of 12 of Bohol’s best designers, namely; Bebie Tagoctoc, Aileen Sendrijas Pasagad, La’doi Aquino, Kim Villamor, Nikki Simporios, Christian Bustrillos, Ryan Sadudaquil, Christian Relator, EJ Relampagos, Charlow Arbasto and the duo of Rose Paul Silhouette. 

EJ Relampagos' couture collection

Kudos to Bohol artistry & craftsmanship

Christian Relator with his muse Queenebeth Barcelona

Each designer came up with a five to seven piece collection that reflected the designers’ fashion philosophy and design aesthetics. 

Bohol’s fashionable set came to see and be seen. Among the notables in the audience were Boholano fashion czar Shanon Pamaong of the Fashion Institute of the Philippines, stylish Dr. Disi Yap- Alba 

 Rose Paulk Silhouette's dreamy collection

Held at the refurbished Bohol Cultural Center, the fast- paced fashion show was a victory for Bohol’s fashion industry and one of the first steps in reaffirming the talent & craftsmanship of the Boholano designers and the artisans along with the styling teams, hair & make up mavens in the beauty & fashion world.

Support your Boholano designers.

Beautiful Boholanas, Delectable Designers, Exquisite Exodus Fashion Gala

EXODUS, Bohol’s most glamorous fashion event, will be highlighting the creations of Bohol Designers Circle, the collective name of the 12 fabulous divas composed of Bebie Tagoctoc, Aileen Sendrijas Pasagad, La’doi Aquino, Kim Villamor, Nikki Simporios, Christian Bustrillos, Ryan Sadudaquil, Christian Relator, EJ Relampagos, Charlow Arbasto and the duo of Rose Paul Silhouette.  

Celina Villoceno & Erika Limbago

Perlie Jeverola & Margarette Requillo

Aside from the sartorial sensations, the spotlight will inevitably focus on some of Bohol’s hottest models, beauty queens and gorgeous hunks. 

Bianca Gaviola & Queenebeth Barcelona

Liezel Turtoga & Queenie Castrodes

Rizalee Rose Razo & Aira Lumantas

Christina Schott & Catherine Tabaniag

The lineup of runway mannequins is a veritable who’s who in Bohol’s fashion industry & pageant circuit including Miss Bohol 2019 Celina Villoceno, Stockton, California Fil-Am Anthony Bonocan, Margarett Requillo, Danica Majumot, Catherine Tabaniag, Rizalee Rose Razo, Erika Limbago, Queenebeth Barcelona, Leizel Turtoga, Bianca Gaviola, Perlie Jeverola, Queenie Castrodes & Christina Schott. 

Proceeds beneficiaries are fellow Boholanos in iSuppor+ HIV Advocates.

Catch the glitz & glamour on Saturday, December 21, 8 pm, Bohol Cultural Center

GOLD SPONSORS.

Shanon Pamaong of Fashion Institute of the Philippines

IO Eco Beauty Shop

YOWEV

My Madamme Productions.

SILVER SPONSORS.

RC Lucky Graphics.

Kew Hotel.

H&F Department Store.

Carol's Charm.

717 Cesar Place.

JRV Construction and Supply.

OQ Construction and Supply.

Ashira Properties.

Boffo Resort.

French Pearson.

Jan Wendell Lim.

Maricel Tirol

BRONZE SPONSORS

Labb Construction.

The Buzz.

Mayor Marietta Tocmo Sumaylo.

Ystillo Salon.

Autotec.

Dr. Maria Flores Vaño-Adiong.

JBI Gamefarm.

Duchess Salon & Spa.

DU EK SAM.

VL Garden Suites.

Jenny Jane and Jenny Jeanette Yu.

Lalai Omac.

MEDIA PARTNER.

The Bohol Chronicle 

Pre- Production Planning & Photo Sessions

Tickets at P1000, P500 P200 P50 

For inquiries contact BDC Secretariat at 0910-1244-637

Bohol Designers Circle Fashion Event on December 21

Witness the interplay of light & dark, the vibrance & boldness of colors, the intricacy of the finest craftsmanship in timeless classics, whimsical wearables and flashes of fashion forecast in Bohol’s most glamorous fashion event on December 21, 2019, 8PM at The Bohol Cultural Center in Tagbilaran City. 

Most glitzy event of the year

Aptly named EXODUS, the year- ender fashion gala will highlight the masterpieces of 12 of Bohol’s top fashion designers as modelled by gorgeous beauty queens, fabulous fashionistas, campus heartthrobs and popular athletes in a fast- paced runway show. 

Bohol Designers Circle, the collective name of the group is headed by Kim Villamor and composed of Bebie Tagoctoc, Aileen Sendrijas Pasagad, La’doi Aquino, Nikki Simporios, Christian Bustrillos, Ryan Sadudaquil, Christian Relator, EJ Relampagos, Charlow Arbasto and the duo of Rose Paul Silhouette. 

BDC members are all smiles for fashion shoot

Proceeds beneficiary are fellow Boholanos in iSuppor+ HIV Advocates.

GOLD SPONSORS.

Shanon Pamaong of Fashion Institute of the Philippines

IO Eco Beauty Shop

YOWEV

My Madamme Productions.

SILVER SPONSORS.

RC Lucky Graphics.

Kew Hotel.

H&F Department Store.

Carol's Charm.

717 Cesar Place.

JRV Construction and Supply.

OQ Construction and Supply.

Ashira Properties.

Boffo Resort.

French Pearson.

Jan Wendell Lim.

Maricel Tirol 

BRONZE SPONSORS

Labb Construction.

The Buzz.

Mayor Marietta Tocmo Sumaylo.

Ystillo Salon.

Autotec.

Dr. Maria Flores Vaño-Adiong.

JBI Gamefarm.

Duchess Salon & Spa.

DU EK SAM.

VL Garden Suites.

Jenny Jane and Jenny Jeanette Yu.

Lalai Omac.

MEDIA PARTNER.

The Bohol Chronicle

Tickets at P1000, P500 P200 P50  

For inquiries contact BDC Secretariat at 0910-1244-637

Miss Universe 2019: Black is Beautiful or Blackout?

It has been eight excruciating years since Leila Lopes of Angola was crowned Miss Universe in Brazil. She’s the fifth beauty of black descent to be crowned Miss Universe in the pageant’s 67 editions. The others are Trinidad & Tobago’s Janelle Commissiong who won in 1977 and Wendy Fitzwilliam in 1998,  Chelsi Smith of USA in 1995 and Mpule Kwelagobe of Botswana in 1999. 

L-R: Janelle, Chelsi, Wendy, Mpule & Leila

Miss Universe 2011: Leila Lopes of Angola

HISTORICAL FIRSTS. Evelyn Miot of Haiti made history in 1962 when she became the first black to reach the top fifteen. In 1968,  Anne Marie Braafheid of Curacao came close to becoming the first black to win Miss Universe. She was 1^st runner up to Miss Brazil. 

Historic firsts in Miss Universe

FIRST BLACK MISS UNIVERSE. It was in 1977 when Janelle "Penny" Commissiong of Trinidad & Tobago became the first black Miss Universe. She was also the third Miss Universe winner to be chosen as Miss Photogenic by the international press covering the event.  During her reign, she raised awareness for black rights in countries where people of African ancestry faced racial discrimination long before advocacy became popular in pageantry. 

Janelle is Miss Photogenic & Miss Universe 1977

Historic win for a black beauty

 A BLACK MISS UNIVERSE FOR 2019?  The announcement that Atlanta, Georgia has been selected as the venue for this year’s Miss Universe pageant has people start talking of a black winner this year. I guess there have been tell- tale signs that the stage has been set for an ebony Miss Universe.  The city is populated mainly by African- Americans. Even the venue, Tyler Perry Studios, is an American film studio that churns out mostly black films. The venue owner and the pageant host are symbols of successful black Americans.  And this year, we have an all African- American set of winners for Miss America, Miss USA and Miss Teen USA. 

Cheslie Kryst is the first lawyer to win Miss USA

The signs point to a black Miss Universe winner because this year’s edition is a celebration of African- American culture with Atlanta, Georgia as host city. If a black wins, then it would be a historic first for Miss Universe Org to have an all- black trio of winners.

It would be symbolic of African- American black empowerment if a black winner will be crowned as Miss Universe 2019 in the slave capital of the Old South, that is, Atlanta, Georgia.

So who would be deemed the most worthy among the gorgeous black beauties this year if Miss Universe Org and the US mainstream media would push their agendum of black empowerment as their vision of diversity?  

The logical choice would have to be Miss USA Cheslie Kryst who would be unbeatable if she enters the top six after the competitive swimsuit and evening gown rounds for the top twenty. The current Miss USA is a natural speaker who has to put on hold her lawyer job to fulfil her winner responsibilities. Prior to competing in Miss Universe, Kryst had been doing live anchor reporting for the show "Extra". The highly accomplished Cheslie graduated from Wake Forest University School of Law with a Juris Doctor and Master of Business Administration in 2017.   

Black beauties from Kenya, Barbados & Dominican Rep

The other black beauties in the running are the girls from Kenya, South Africa, Nigeria, Haiti, Panama, Dominican Republic and Barbados.

So will it be a black beauty or will there be a blackout? Watch the Miss Universe 2019 finals on December 9, 8 am over ABS CBN or Star World at 8 am.

Miss Universe 2019: Is It Time for a Thailand Triumph?

It’s about time for a third Miss Universe winner from Thailand. It’s long- overdue. Their previous wins were in 1965 and 1988. Gunning for their fifth consecutive placement since 2015 and hopefully, their third win, Thailand is leaving no stone unturned to ensure their bet’s victory.

Fahsai Drouin: Miss Universe Thailand 2019 

From preparation time to send- off, Thailand left no stone unturned to ensure a Miss Universe victory. Talk about a spectacular send- off for any Miss Universe candidate! That scene in Thailand when throngs of Thai pageant fanatics converged to send off their Miss Universe bet is epic!

So why should Thailand win its third Miss Universe crown?

The following are points to support a Thai victory:

     

  -  Thais are among the most fanatical when it comes to Miss Universe pageant fans. Remember how the whole venue erupted into thunderous applause & cheers when their hometown bet made the top 20 and eventually place among the top ten in last year’s Miss Universe edition. Rewarding Thailand with the Miss Universe crown would be a profitable move for MUO.

-     Thailand has spent millions in dollars to host three successful editions of Miss Universe. Giving them the crown would be a token of gratitude for the spectacular Miss Universe 2018 edition that had 94 delegates- the most in Miss Universe history. 

Fahsai Drouin: Is She the One?

-   The reigning Miss Universe Thailand 2019 is Jennifer Paweensuda Saetan-Drouin from Bangkok. Better known as Fahsai, her Thai nickname has got what it takes to be the next Miss Universe. The 26 year old 5’11” tall model/ DJ has a globally appealing beauty, biracial background, English fluency and a summa cum laude graduate from the University of Calgary in Canada where she majored in Kinesiology. 

Exciting airport send- off

-    She was chosen by Mouawad, the new crown sponsor to model for the company which further made people in the pageant world to believe that she is the chosen one. Remember Catriona Gray? She was invited by Sherri Hill, Miss Universe major sponsor to model at the New York Fashion Week even before the Miss Universe pageant officially started. 

Miss Universe 2019 Catriona Gray crowns Miss Thailand 2019

-     Fahsai was crowned as Miss Universe Thailand 2019 by both the reigning Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray and Sophida Kanchanarin, Miss Universe Thailand 2018.  

So what would prevent Fahsai from clinching the Miss Universe 2019 title?

-   Crowning another biracial beauty from Asia would be a case of too much, too soon and would be against IMG’s stance on beauty in diversity.

-     The intense pressure to deliver just might overwhelm Fahsai

-     The growing buzz that a black beauty will be crowned might turn out to be true.

-    The ladies from the Philippines, France, Colombia and Kenya have been gaining momentum during the past few days leading to the pageant finals.

Will it be time for a Thai triumph in Miss Universe 2019? Watch the live telecast on December 9, 8 am, ABS CBN or Star World 8 am.

Part 1: Miss Universe 2019 Pre- Pageant Thoughts

Gone are the days when international beauty competitions were all about beauty and world peace.

In this age of social media and advocacy- driven campaigns, beauty takes the back seat to smart, relatable, empowered, advocacy- driven achiever women and to the dynamics of business revenues. 

Miss Earth is about articulate spokespersons for the environment. 

Miss World is all about Beauty with a Purpose and, of course, Julia Morley’s anointed one. 

Miss International, the most traditional of the four most prestigious international beauty competitions selects the charming girl with exquisite, doll- like features and with refined manners.

Miss Universe has undergone a paradigm shift. After changing ownership in 2015, the new management tried to resuscitate the brand with a spectacular edition that had the most talked- about crowning fiasco.

With waning popularity in the US, an all- time low in TV ratings, difficulty in snagging high- profile sponsorship deals and inability to snag host venues outside the US, Miss Universe is now shifting from crowning uber gorgeous, smoking hot glamazons to selecting charming, articulate & empowered achievers with riveting back stories and with huge social media following. 

If IMG is earnest in its campaign for diversity, then we just have to be ready for a surprise winner, someone who is under the radar but would spring a surprise on pageant night.

Pageant enthusiasts are still hopeful that most of the frontrunners would still advance to the top twenty (after judges & the MUO whittle down the field from 90 to 20 during the preliminaries consisting of closed- door panel interviews, swimsuits & gowns)

Based on media hype & pageant fans’ support, leading the pack are the sash factor beauties from  THAILAND, PHILIPPINES, BRAZIL, COLOMBIA, INDONESIA, PUERTO RICO & USA. Not far behind are FRANCE and ALBANIA, Starting to get noticed in Atlanta, Georgia right now are HAITI, CROATIA, PANAMA & INDIA. From the African continent, we have SOUTH AFRICA, KENYA, NIGERIA & ANGOLA. 

Gazini Ganados guns for back- to- back victory

THE OTHER GIRLS WHO CAUGHT MY EYE

NEXT: Is It Time for a Thailand Triumph in Miss Universe 2019?

Vice Ganda Holds Successful Chugug sa Bohol Concert

Vice Ganda lived up to her billing as one of the country’s most bankable stars and leading TV host, top box office draw, and in- demand concert & live show performer when he performed in a sold- out concert for Boholano fans. 

STELLAR PERFORMANCE: Vice Ganda

Photo Credits: Dennis Saco

Dubbed “Vice Ganda: Chugug sa Bohol”, the comedy royalty entertained and mesmerized the Boholano crowd with his perfect comedic timing. In between his song numbers, Vice Ganda also teased and interacted with the audience. Pleased with the warm reception, he extended the show for another hour. 

Ion Perez has a following in Bohol

Photo Credits: Dennis Saco

MC & Lassie wowed em

Photo Credits: Dennis Saco

With able support from rumoured boyfriend Ion Perez and the popular stand up comedy duo of MC & Lassie, Vice Ganda was able to mesmerize and captivate the hard to please Boholano crowd who erupted into howls of laughter. 

Concertgoers were already lining up as early as two in the afternoon which was pretty unusual for a Bohol concert. Concert gates opened promptly at 6.30 pm and the show opened with a song and dance number from Manila Mayor Ishko Moreno’s son, the upcoming matinee idol Joaquin Domagoso who elicited screams from admiring teens. 

STAR TO WATCH OUT FOR: Joaquin Domagoso

Photo Credits: Dennis Saco

Boholano fans were treated to a repertoire of pop songs and certified hits from Six Part Invention, Vice Ganda’s favourite band. 

Six Part Invention

Photo Credits: Dennis Saco 

Here are photos from the sell- out concert last Nov 24 at the Bohol Wisdom School Gym, Tagbilaran City as captured by the lenses of good friend Macky Macalla

Quality show mounted by Stella Cuizon Ancla of Dextel

Appreciative crowd of Boholanos